Superintendent shuffles in southwest Florida

The Collier School Board has unceremoniously dumped superintendent Dennis Thompson without cause, after he threatened to sue the district over its plans to replace him without what he considered proper payment.

The Fort Myers News-Press reports that the board has replaced Thompson with an assistant principal, who will serve as interim superintendent while finalists for the permanent job are considered.

Thompson did not get the nod as a finalist for the top spot in neighboring Lee County, where that School Board named five finalists for its open superintendency.

Notably, board member Jane Kuckel refused to support any of the applicants, saying that none met what she considered minimum qualifications to lead a district of its size, the Naples Daily News reports. "For me it's not about finding a superman or a superwoman," she said. "It's about finding someone who has a proven track record."

About the blog

Gradebook features education articles and insights on schools in Florida, focusing on Tampa Bay area schools. What's the latest from the Florida Department of Education? How is the FCAT being used to compare Florida schools? What's going on in Tampa Bay schools? Get an insider's view from the Times education reporting team.